Introducing Kyoto souvenirs recommended by JR Kyoto Isetan, located at the entrance to Kyoto Station. This is the second installment, and this time we've lined up the top three best-selling items from the Kyoto local sake, side dishes, and tea sections.

■ A wide variety of brands available! Kyoto Local Sake Edition

1st Place: "Matsui Sake Brewery / Shinzo Dry Junmai Nama Genshu" (720ml, 2,095 yen)
Established in 1726 (the 11th year of the Kyoho era), Matsui Sake Brewery is the oldest brewery in Kyoto, and has taken on the challenge of creating the Shinzo series using the experience backed by its long tradition and the latest equipment. This junmai sake, which is completely unfiltered and is made with a focus on being unpasteurized, is popular for its elegant, refined, and crisp taste.

2nd place: "Yamamoto Honke/Shinsei Matsu no Midori Junmai Daiginjo" (720ml, 2,000 yen)
A fragrant sake with a strong aftertaste (mouth aroma) produced by a sake brewery in Fushimi, Kyoto. This Junmai Daiginjo was named by Omotesenke Jinmyosai Sen Soza, a master of the school, and is a famous sake that is also used for tea ceremonies.

3rd place: "Saito Sake Brewery/Koto Sennen Junmai Ginjo" (720ml, 1,500 yen)
A Junmai Ginjo sake brewed from Kyoto-grown "Iwai" rice, which is ideal for sake brewing and polished to 55%. You can enjoy a crisp mouthfeel, full-bodied flavor, and just the right amount of ginjo aroma.

■From limited-edition products inspired by spring to Osaka specialties?! Side Dishes Edition
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1st Place: "Hanbei Fu/Sakura Mochi Fu" (5 pieces, 1,100 yen)
A Kyoto-based gluten shop founded in 1689. Their seasonal gluten manju, made with smooth bean paste kneaded with cherry blossom leaves, wrapped in cherry blossom-colored namafu dough and then wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf, is recommended as a dessert. Available until April 19th, so hurry!
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2nd Place: "Miki Keiran/Kodama Yomi Anpan" (5 pieces, 417 yen)
This is anpan from Tamagoya-san, created by a rolled omelet specialty store in Nishiki Market, Kyoto, with the desire to "spread the deliciousness of eggs even further." The yolk-based bean paste, made by kneading egg yolk into white strained bean paste, has a strong, fragrant egg yolk flavor and a moderate sweetness. The cuteness of the bun, which can be eaten in one bite, is also the secret to its popularity.

3rd Place: "551 Horai/Pork Bun" (1 piece, 152 yen)
Selling approximately 140,000 buns a day, the Osaka specialty "551 Horai" is also hugely popular in Kyoto. Filled only with pork and onion, the pork is roughly diced to create the right texture. These hearty meat buns are individually hand-wrapped by artisans and are a classic Kansai souvenir.

■Famous tea producing region representing Japan. Kyoto Speciality Tea Edition

1st Place: "Marukyu Koyamaen/Matcha Kinrin" (20g, from 1,200 yen)
Matcha is made from flavorful new shoots grown in the same way as gyokuro, without rolling them, and ground using only the soft leaves in an old-fashioned stone mill, resulting in a mellow flavor and beautiful vibrant color. It can be enjoyed as either thin or thick tea.
2nd place: "Kanbayashi Shunsho Honten/Ayataka" (70g, 800 yen)
This green tea is made with a generous amount of carefully selected tea leaves, based on the "gogumi" technique, a tea master's skill that has been honed over the 450 years since the company was founded.
3rd place: "Irokuen/Heiankyo Obancha Dosu" (5g x 30 bags, 1,000 yen)
Because it is something you drink every day, they are very particular about the ingredients. Using tea leaves carefully selected by the 8th generation owner, this tea is made with traditional blending techniques to create a refreshing, low-irritation tea. The cute, modern Japanese packaging and tea bag type make it a great souvenir to take to the office.